Both Mr Dayanand Mandrekar the BJP MLA from Siolim Assembly Constituency and Mr Rajendra Arlekar the MLA from the Vasco-da-Gama Assembly Constituency have been disqualifed from the membership of the Goa Legislative Assembly in an order pronounced by the Bombay High Court today. Their order has however been stayed for 30 days enabling them to appeal before the Supreme Court if they so desire.
It may be recalled that the duo were holding an "office of profit" viz the Chairmainship of Goa Khadi and Village Industries Board and Goa State Schedule Caste & other Backward Classes Finance Development Corportion Ltd at the time of contesting the May 2002 elections. . With these disqualifications the strenght of the BJP comes down to 14 and besides 1 UGDP member (total now 15 instead earlier 17) in the House of 39 MLAs; the others belonging to the INC NCP MGP combine . The petition of Independent candidate Mr Filipe Neri Rodrigues is subjudice pending disposal in the Bombay High Court It is obvious that the order comes as a further damper to the BJP combine prospects in the ensuing bye elections to the five Assembly Constituencies as the INC, NCP, Independent, UGDP, being a secular combine will fare better , now that they have decided to go hammer and tongs against the come back of any communal outfit with the right wing Hindu funadamentalist forces in the State notwithstanding their excellent performance in development of the State in the past 51 months GODFREY J I GONSALVES Borda Margao Goa [EMAIL PROTECTED] ________________________________________________________________________ Yahoo! India Matrimony: Find your life partner online Go to: http://yahoo.shaadi.com/india-matrimony